Connector.



M. U. SPRING.

OGNNEGTOB..

APPLIUATIoN FILED N0v.12,1ao4.

M. O. SPRING.

GONNBOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov,12,19o4.

2 Emme-SHEET z.

Patented Nov. 17,

Ilm/ENTER MERTIE D EFRINET Fig. 7.

WITNEEEEE www me.: ca, wnsnmcrnm ny c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MERTIE ONG SPRING, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSlGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1908.

Application tiled November 12, 1904. Serial No. 232,462.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that l, l\"l1nrrn1 O. Stanno, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Selwuertady, county of Schenectady, State o't| New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connectors, ot which the following is a specitication.

The present invention relates to connectors for electrical conductors and has for its object to provid\` a connector which is simple and economical in structure and capable ot' being easily manipulated to connect and disconnect the conductors, and at the same time rendered fe am protectiye 5,0126.ring

insulating material.

The character of the invention will be best understood upon reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the preferred embodiment of the. invention is disclosed.

ln said d awing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the connector connected between a bus-bar and a lead extending therefrom; Fig. 2 is a central section of the same; Fig. il a plan view: Fig. it an enlarged detail view illustrating the threaded portions of the connector terminals and/the connecting nut; Figs. 5 and G are elevations illustrating the connector attached to the bus-bar of varying cross-section; and F 7 is a view illustrating two connectors attached to a buswire at a common point.

The present invention is particularly applicable to connecting switch leads to busbars and in Fig. 1 I have shown it connected up between a b us-bar 1() and a conductor lead 11.

The connector consists essentially of threaded terminals 1Q and 13, a differential nut 14 for drawing the terminals together and a protective skirt or bushing of insulating material 15, which is secured to one of the terminals and extends around the nut and the other terminal so as to protect them from accidental contact. The upper terminal 12 comprises two parts 152a and 12b which are adapted to engage opposite sides of the bus-bar 10 and to be drawn into mechanical and electrical engagement therewith by the screws 1G. The portions of the terminal which engage the bus-bars are grooved so as to provide a circular opening for the passage of the bar. The size of this opening must necessarily be such that the parts will be forced into firm engagement with the conductor, and it may obviously be changed in section or dimension to suit the section or size of the l111s-bar. The lower end of the terminal 12 and the upper end of the terminal or plug 1:1 are revcrsely threaded for the reception of the ditfereutial nut 14. The nut and the head of the terminal 13 are angular in exterior outline so that they may be turned by a wrench 0r other tool in disconnecting the conductors. The adjacent ends of the terminals 1Q and 13 are substantially parallel, but in order to improve the electrical contact a layer of conducting fabrics, such as wire gauze, 1T, is interposed between them. The lower terminal 13 is provided with a socket 1S, into which the lead 11 may be soldered.

In order to protect the connector from ac eidental contact the terminal 12 is provided with a collar 19 of suitable insulating material which is preferably a compound molded on the terminal, the terminal being roughcned, or otherwise shaped, as indicated at 20 so as to maintain good mechanical connection with the collar. r[he exterior of the collar is threaded for the reception ot the skirt or bushing 15. This bushing is also composed of insulating material and its tree end completely surrounds the nut 14, the terminal 13 and a portion of the lead 11.

In the use of the connector it is usual to cover the portion of the upper terminal 12 above the collar 18 and the adjacent portions of the bus-bars with tape so as to completely insulate them. Then it is desired to separate the conductors, that is, to detach the lead 11, it is only necessary to uuscrew the bushing 15 from the collar 18 and slip it down over the exterior of the lead so as to expose the differential nut 14. The nut may be then turned so as to force the terminals 12 and 13 apart thereby disconnecting the lead. The lead is connected up by reversing this operation.

As previously indicated, the connector may be attached to bus-bars of varying crosssection by properly changing the grooves in the parts 128L and 12b of the upper terminal 12. In some instances it may also be desirable to omit the member 121il and connect the portion 12b of the connector directly to the bus-bar, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein the bus-bar 10a is attached to the terminal 12 by screws 16a. Furthermore, where it is desired to run leads from the busbar in opposite directionsl two eonneetzora` may be assembled in the manner illustrati-,d in Fig. 7 by leaving ott' the parter l2 aml using the portions 1Q ot' two eonneetora as the clamping members whieh embraee the hlm wire. ln this* ease the parte4 l2" are preferably drawn together by aerews lo entering;l trom opposite Sides.

Ubviouely eertain ehangee may be made in the Speeitie eonstruetion illuetrated without departing?r from the spirit and aeope ol my inventiol'i. I there'lore do not wish to be limited to the specific matter illustrated but aim to eover by the terms ot the :dipended claims all Such alterationS and moditieatioim.

that I Claim as new and desire to Seeure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A connector for eleetrieal eondnetors comprising two. reyersely threaded termi nale, one et `eaid terminale having' threads at one end, and two separate parte4 at the other end thereof, meantv for elampingl Said parte to a conductor, a detachable coupling for Said terminals comprising a nut engaging the threaded part of said terminals for drawing the two terminals into eleetrieal and mechanical engagement, and a proteotive bnshino' of insulating material removably7 secure to one of said terminals and surrounding the nut and other terminal.

2. A Connector for electrical conductors comprising two reversely threaded terminals to which the Conductors are connected, a nut engaging said threaded terminals for drawing' them together, a eonduetime' tabrie interposed between said threaded terminals` and a. proteelive bushing' o'll inaulatilrel |nalerial removably secured to one ol' `wid terminale and surroumliug the uut and other terminal.

it. A eonneelor for eleetriral eonduetora` eomprising two terminals to whieh the eoudurtor are adapted to be eonueeted, m i:um 'l'or eleetrieally eouneetil'ig' the terminals, a eollar ot insulating' material laeeured to one ot said tern'iinala` adjaeent the point ol' eleetrieal eonneetion ot| the two, and a bushing ot iueulatinel material removably eeeured to lsaid collar and extending' around and lneyond the (sonner-,ting means.

el. The Combination with an eleetrieal eenduetor, of two teimiriam eaeh provided with a Clamping;l Fact at one end, lsaid (dampingl faees eoperating;l to engage Said eonduetor, means for drawing Said clamping' fares into engagement with Said condnetor, means on the other end of each of :aid terminals for Connecting' an eleetrieal Conductor thereto, and a protective easing ofinrrlkating material, removably Secured to each off-aid terminals and surrounding' said connecting means.

In witness whereof I have hereunto .eet my hand this 10th day of November, 1904.

MERTIE ONG SPR] Ntt. litnesses BENJAMIN B. Illini., HELEN Onronn.

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